Five of the most prescribed drugs in America all treat different medical conditions but they have one thing in common – they are used by millions of Americans every day.
“Every day, millions of people in the U.S. take prescribed drugs to help them live their lives,” said Visual Capitalist. “As our understanding of medicine has evolved, we’ve been able to develop drugs to aid with some of the most common medical conditions—from pain and blood pressure drugs to asthma medication, thyroid treatments, and antidepressants.”
Visual Capitalist put together a fascinating graphic of the most prescribed drugs in America by utilizing data from the U.S. agency for Healthcare Research and Quality which was released in 2021 for the 2019 calendar year.
Drugs Topping the List Treated Cholesterol, BP, and More
Drugs that topped the list included medicine for:
- Cholesterol
- Antibiotic
- Blood Pressure
- Thyroid
- Breathing
“The most prescribed drug, Atorvastatin (sold under the brand Lipitor), was prescribed to 24.5 million people in the U.S. in 2019, or 7.5 percent of the population. It was one of many statin medications listed, which are used to prevent cardiovascular disease and treat abnormal lipid levels,” said Visual Capitalist.
While Lipitor was No. 1, medications for blood pressure dominated the list with 4 of the top 10 most prescribed drugs aimed at treating high BP.
“A majority of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. are used to treat high blood pressure or symptoms of it. That’s because 108 million or nearly half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension or high blood pressure,” said Visual Capitalist.
Here is a closer look at 5 of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S., what they are used to treat, and what adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can result from taking them:
No. 1: Atorvastatin
Primary Use: Cholesterol
Brand Name(s): Lipitor
Total U.S. Patients: 24,493,971
GoodRx says: “Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is a statin used to treat high cholesterol. Prior to its release as generic Atorvastatin in 2011, it was considered the top drug by sales for most of the previous decade. It is still one of the most commonly prescribed statins, and though not as inexpensive as Simvastatin (Zocor), the generic price has continued to drop.”
DrugReport 2020 Prescription Estimate: 104,774,006
DrugReport 2020 Average Retail Price per Refill: $218.51
DrugReport says: “Treatment to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
MedLine.gov listed side effects:
- Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:
o Diarrhea
o Heartburn
o Gas
o Joint Pain
o Forgetfulness or Memory Loss
o Confusion
- The following side effects are uncommon but call your doctor or seek emergency help immediately if you experience them:
o Muscle Pain, Tenderness, or Weakness
o Fever
o Chest Pain
o Nausea
o Extreme Tiredness
o Weakness
o Unusual Bleeding or Bruising
o Loss of Appetite
o Pain in the Upper Right Part of the Stomach
o Flu-like Symptoms
o Dark-colored Urine
o Yellowing of the Skin or Eyes
o Rash
o Hives
o Itching
o Difficulty Breathing or Swallowing
o Swelling of the Face, Throat, Tongue, Lips, Eyes, Hands, Feet, Ankles, or Lower Legs
o Hoarseness
No. 2: Amoxicillin
Primary Use: Antibiotic
Brand Name(s): Amoxil, Dispermox, Larotid, Moxtag, Polymox, Trimox, Wymox
Total U.S. Patients: 20,368,921
Medline.Gov says: “Amoxicillin is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia; bronchitis (infection of the airway tubes leading to the lungs); and infections of the ears, nose, throat, urinary tract, and skin. It is also used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers. Amoxicillin is in a class of medications called Penicillin-like antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.”
DrugReport 2020 Prescription Estimate: 27,913,807
DrugReport 2020 Average Retail Price per Refill: $16.27
MedLine.gov listed side effects:
- Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Diarrhea
o Changes in Taste
o Headache
- The following side effects are uncommon but call your doctor or seek emergency help immediately if you experience them:
o Rash
o Skin Blisters or Peeling
o Itching
o Hives
o Wheezing
o Difficulty Swallowing or Breathing
o Swelling of the Face, Throat, Tongue, Lips, and Eyes
o Severe diarrhea (water or bloody stools) that may occur with or without fever and stomach cramps (may occur up to 2 months or more after your treatment)
No. 3: Lisinopril
Primary Use: Blood Pressure
Brand Name(s): Prinivil, Qbrelis, Zestril
Total U.S. Patients: 19,990,170
GoodRx says: “Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure, and in combination with other medications to treat heart failure. Lisinopril was the third ACE inhibitor to become available. It may be more convenient than some of the other options because it is longer acting, meaning you only need to take one tablet per day rather than two or three.”
DrugReport 2020 Prescription Estimate: 104,779,318
DrugReport 2020 Average Retail Price per Refill: $27.10
MedLine.gov listed side effects:
- Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:
o Cough
o Dizziness
o Headache
o Excessive Tiredness
o Nausea
o Weakness
o Sneezing
o Runny Nose
o Decrease in Sexual Activity
o Rash
- The following side effects are uncommon but call your doctor or seek emergency help immediately if you experience them:
o Swelling of the Face, Throat, Tongue, Lips, Eyes, Hands, Feet, Ankles, or Lower Legs
o Hoarseness
o Difficulty Breathing or Swallowing
o Fever, Sore Throat, Chills, and Other Signs of Infection
o Yellowing of the Skin or Eyes
o Lightheadedness
o Fainting
o Chest pain
No. 4: Levothyroxine
Primary Use: Thyroid
Brand Name(s): Euthyrox, Levoxyl, Levo-T, Synthroid, Unithroid,
Total U.S. Patients: 19,698,087
GoodRx says: “Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid) is a synthetically prepared thyroid hormone that can improve symptoms of thyroid deficiency. There are several brand and generic Levothyroxine choices available; however, they aren't interchangeable. Generic Levothyroxine is very inexpensive, though most of the brands available are also affordable.”
DrugReport 2020 Prescription Estimate: 101,932,430
DrugReport 2020 Average Retail Price per Refill: $31.29
MedLine.gov listed side effects:
- Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:
o Weight Gain or Loss
o Headache
o Vomiting
o Diarrhea
o Changes in Appetite
o Fever
o Changes in Menstrual Cycle
o Hair Loss
o Joint Pain
o Leg Cramps
- The following side effects are uncommon but call your doctor or seek emergency help immediately if you experience them:
o Shortness of breath, wheezing, hives, itching, rash, flushing, stomach pain, nausea or swelling of hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
No. 5: Albuterol
Primary Use: Breathing
Brand Name(s): Accuneb, Proair, Proventil, Ventolin
Total U.S. Patients: 19,085,418
GoodRx says: “Albuterol is used to treat and prevent bronchospasm. It is a short-acting beta agonist and works by relaxing muscles in the lungs.”
DrugReport 2020 Prescription Estimate: 50,286,686
DrugReport 2020 Average Retail Price per Refill: $53.17
DrugReport says: “Treatment for asthma, COPD, and airway tightness.
MedLine.gov listed side effects:
- Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:
o Uncontrollable Shaking of a Part of the Body
o Nervousness
o Headache
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Cough
o Throat Irritation
o Muscle, Bone, or Back Pain
- The following side effects are uncommon but call your doctor or seek emergency help immediately if you experience them:
o Fast, Pounding, or Irregular Heartbeat
o Chest Pain
o Rash
o Hives
o Itching
o Swelling of the Face, Throat, Tongue, Lips, Eyes, Hands, Feet, Ankles, or Lower Legs
o Increased Difficulty Breathing
o Difficulty Swallowing
o Hoarseness
